Four Healthcare Scientists appointed as National Institute for Health Research Training Advocates
Introducing the new National Institute for Health Research Training Advocates
- Published on
- 11th October 2019
- Filed under
- HSST, Research
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Training Advocates were established to promote research training opportunities to non-medical clinical professions. With the recent appointment of four Healthcare Scientists to these roles’ healthcare science is represented in the NIHR in greater numbers than ever before.
The successful candidates are:
- Dr Elaine Cloutman-Green, Microbiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London
- Dr Samantha Irving, Respiratory Physiology, Royal Brompton Hospital, London
- Dr Jane Freeman, Microbiology, Leeds Teaching Hospital and University of Leeds, Leeds
- Dr Owen Driskell, Biochemistry, National School of Healthcare Science, West Midlands
These four healthcare scientists have personal experience of the NIHR training awards and were chosen from the applications received. The advocates will provide expert advice to NIHR in relation to Healthcare Science and will now be working within the NIHR Advocates Forum to identify facilitators and barriers for Healthcare Science in taking up NIHR Training opportunities. These will be communicated with the Forum and the NIHR Academy to influence the development of research capacity.
Also key to the role of the NIHR Training Advocate is the promotion of clinical academic careers, including options for career structures. They will be out and about presenting at conferences and meetings and promoting NIHR academic research opportunities to their profession. They are available to give support and advice to both aspiring researchers and those already on a clinical academic pathway and with access to the NIHR they will have up to date advice on the options the NIHR provide.
We will be following their work at the School and will keep you posted.